The Singing Mermaid

The Singing Mermaid plays at the Montgomery Theatre on Wednesday 31 March and Thursday 1 April, as part of Sheffield Theatres' family season. It's an adaptation of the popular children's book by Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks, aimed at 3-8 year olds and their families, and it's brought to life with puppetry and performance. The story follows a singing mermaid who's tempted away from her sea-creature friends to join a travelling circus, only to find the wicked circus master, Sam Sly, keeps her in a small fish tank instead of the swimming pool she was promised.

Behind the scenes, the show is adapted by Donaldson and Monks, with music and songs by Barb Jungr. It's presented by Shoddy Theatre and The Production Garden in association with Chelmsford Theatre. It comes direct from the West End, where it's picked up four-star reviews: one described it as making a 'big splash', and another said it brings Lydia Monks's illustrated world to 'gloriously barmy life'.

Practically, it's a short one, running for around 55 minutes with no interval, so it's a good fit for younger audiences who might struggle with a full evening. Accessible performances are available too. There are three showtimes each day: 10:30am, 12:30pm and 3:30pm, so you can pick the one that works best for your morning or afternoon.